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EDITORIAL
www.rotar ydownunder.org 5
Communication
is in our hands
Mark Wallace
Just between us
As this is being written, the Australian Parliament is
preparing for an inquiry into the use of electronic devices
within the two chambers of Parliament.
It’s causing uproar among the Parliamentary Press
Gallery types. There are accusations of attempts to muzzle
democracy and freedom of speech and all that, but that’s
no less than you’d expect from a Parliament in which any
change, no matter which side of politics proposes the
change, is immediately condemned as the beginning of
the end of civilisation as we know it.
The proposal coincides with the final preparations for
the Rotary International Convention and comes shortly
after a fascinating concept in District Conferences took
place in Sydney recently.
Districts 9685 and 9675 both conducted shortened
one-day conferences, ostensibly due to the proximity of
the impending Convention and the demands that would
place on local Sydney Rotarians.
You can read about these conferences on page six, but
the interesting point for me was the use of live streaming
of all Conference proceedings by D9685.
A little further into this edition of Rotary Down Under
(p18) you’ll find advice on tweeting. Conference and
Convention organisers have steadfastly resisted the push
for Wi-Fi in plenary halls at such events, but it seems the
tide has finally turned for those of us who love to tweet,
post and generally keep our families, friends and colleagues
up-to-date with the latest news, gossip and plans.
Opponents argue any number of points, from
intermittent electronic noise that will distract both
presenters and the audience, to downright rudeness of
tweeters who find more of interest on their phones and
tablet devices than in what a presenter of international
standing might be telling them.
Neither of which are arguments for which I have any time.
In New Orleans we had some wonderful speakers,
none more impressive than Bill Gates himself, imploring
Rotarians around the world and those from six countries in
particular – including Australia – to lobby their politicians
to once again get behind the worldwide polio eradication
campaign. What a great message to get out to all those
unable to attend. But, of course, without a local phone
and without Wi-Fi in the room, there was no way to get
the message out, short of getting up and walking out of
the room.
Convention organisers have promised free Wi-Fi
throughout the Convention precinct, and that is a huge
step forward.
Those posting to social media using hand-held devices
at conferences and other important gatherings may seem
like they’re not paying attention, but organisers need to
wake up to the 21st century – it’s how we communicate
these days! Rather than ignoring what’s going on, it is
far more likely that the “Twit” is actually listening intently,
and reporting proceedings to a worldwide audience.
The District 9685 Conference had an audience of around
550 that they could count in the plenary hall. What they
later realised was that it also went out to people in more
than 14 other countries, so who knows how many more
were exposed to Rotary’s message that day?
To borrow from Rotary International Past President
John Kenny’s theme in 2009-10
–
The future of Rotary’s
communications is in your hands! 
Those posting to social media using
hand-held devices at conferences and
other important gatherings may seem
like they ’re not paying attention, but
organisers need to wake up to the 21st
century – it’s how we communicate
these days!